It’s official, the world’s favourite Chinese vehicle brand is also South African motorists’ favourite brand.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro MAX was chosen last night as the Motor Enthusiast’s Choice at the Car of the Year gala evening in Johannesburg, which was hosted by the SA Guild of Mobility Journalists and their sponsor Old Mutual Insurance.

The Award means that the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro MAX received the most votes from the public as their Car of the Year choice for 2023.

“We are overjoyed by our award,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa. “The announcement is a clear endorsement of our Tiggo 8 Pro and its popularity among South African motorists.”

The Motor Enthusiast’s Choice Award mirrors Chery’s success in the retail market. From an unknown entity late in 2021, Chery has grown rapidly to become a regular member of the Top 10 list of best-selling vehicle brands in the country.

Year to date, Chery has sold 6 600 new Tiggo models in South Africa and close to 20 000 units since commencing operations in South Africa. On a global scale, Chery has sold over 450 000 new cars in the first quarter of 2023, setting a record and further affirming Chery’s position as the top-selling Chinese exporter in the world. It has held this position for the past 21 years.

“It is heartening to see how well Chery has been accepted in South Africa. The Tiggo 4 Pro is one of the best-selling passenger vehicles in the country and both the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro are among the top-sellers in their categories,” says Liu.

Chery’s success in the local vehicle market is not without reason. Since introducing its very first model, Chery has offered each owner a comprehensive mechanical warranty and service plan that include a 1 million kilometre / 10-year engine warranty.

The company later backed up this promise by investing in a larger, state-of-the-art warehouse, from where it ships parts to every dealer, every day.

Chery also impressed buyers and fans alike with its new, innovative Chery Cares programme, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance and a host of services, including scratch and dent repair, rim repair, drive-me-home chauffeur services and even windscreen replacement as part of the purchase price.

Returning to last night’s winner – the Tiggo 8 Pro Max – the public appears to have given its thumbs up to this flagship SUV that offers everything in terms of power, performance, luxury features and space, without the punishing price tag of many of its competitors.

The Tiggo 8 Pro MAX is fitted with a 2 litre TGDI turbo-petrol engine that delivers a powerful 187 kW and 390 Nm of torque. The engine uses the most modern engineering in the Chery Group, such as direct injection, lightweight moulding, intelligent engine management and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to offer class leading performance at a price of only R629 900.

“The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro MAX was not only the most powerful finalist in the Midsize Vehicle Category in this year’s Car of the Year competition, but also one of the best specified vehicles outright,” says Liu.

As the flagship of the entire Chery range in South Africa, the Tiggo 8 Pro MAX includes virtually every creature comfort and luxury feature that one can expect in this class of vehicle. This includes a large panoramic sunroof, six omnidirectional airbags, automatic adaptive LED headlights, an intelligent voice command system and one of the largest touch-screen high-resolution infotainment systems in the industry.

The Tiggo 8 Pro MAX is also fitted with a complete range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, a full 360-degree camera system, Front Collision Warning and Intelligent High Beam Control.

Add to this list a best-in-class interior with seven seats, an intelligent all-wheel drive system, one of the strongest safety cells of any midsized SUV and the high-performance engine and you have a vehicle unmatched in its category.

“The Tiggo 8 Pro MAX is a perfect example of our approach to the market. Many manufacturers advertise a list price that offers virtually no luxury features to lure buyers onto the showroom floor, only to burden them with a long list of expensive addons and features.

“In contrast, the Tiggo 8 Pro is fitted with all the luxury features as standard, and the buyer is only left with one option, their choice of colour.”

“We would like to thank all the journalists and public that voted for Chery and the Tiggo 8 Pro MAX as the Motor Enthusiast’s Choice. We cannot wait to welcome more people into our showrooms and introduce them to the South African Motor Enthusiast’s Choice!” says Liu.